Ventilator pipe cap



Oct. 17, 1933.

H. PARKER Filed Nov. 1930 77 25 26 25 20 la J23 L 1 l .1 1 l I I O W INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENTILATOR PIPE CAP Howell Parker, Seattle, Wash. 7

Application November 4, 1930. Serial No. 493,330

2 Claims. (01. 98-85) My invention relates to improvements in caps or covers for the ventilator pipes of ships and the object of my invention is to provide a ventilator pipe, cap or cover which may be applied to the tops of the ventilator pipes of ships to cover or partially cover the same and which will not interfere with the operation of the ventilator cowls which are ordinarily used on said ventilator pipes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilator pipe, cap or cover which becomes permanently attached to the ventilator pipe and which is held and moved by mechanical means operable from the exterior of the ventilator pipe, said cover being arranged to be opened any desired amount and being freely rotatable into any desired position when it is open or partially open.

A further object is to provide means within the cowl of a ventilator pipe for engagement with my cap or cover plate to turn the same into an edgewise position relative to the open front of the cowl whereby said cap will oifer the least obstruction to the entrance of air into the ventilator pipe.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cap of this nature having a single lifting bar connected to the central portion thereof and extending down into the ventilator pipe, said lifting bar having annular rack teeth formed thereon whereby said bar may be turned while in mesh with a pinion.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical view of a ships ventilator pipe having a cap, or cover constructed in accordance with my invention installed thereon, the cover being shown in a closed position and the ventilator pipe having a cowl of the usual form thereon.

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view on broken line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the ventilator pipe cap in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section on broken line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing means for holding the cap in any desired position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the cap substantially on broken line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing,throughout whichlike reference numerals designate like parts, 5 designates a ships ventilator pipe and 6 designates a cowl of the form ordinarily used on this type of ventilator pipe. Theparts 5 and 6, are of the usual form of construction and a plurality of the same are found on substantially all large ships. The ventilation within the ship is regula'ted by varying the position of the cowls but this does not afford means for"closing the ventilator pipes and it is often necessary to remove the cowls and completely close the top of the ventilator .pipes. It is common practice'to close these pipes after the cowls are removed by lashing a' canvas or tarpaulin over the top ofthe same.v This necessitates removal of the-cowl and consumes considerable time and labor and is a needlessly slow process which may result in'the admission of water through the ventilator pipes with consequent damage to the cargo. 'It is further objectionable in that it does not admit of a partial closing or opening of the ventilator pipe.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a ventilator pipe cap or cover formed of a flat metal plate 7. The flat metal plate '7 has a ring 8 secured to its bottom side. The ring 8 has its outer edge beveled as at 9 to fit a corresponding bevel 10 on an annular tube like sleeve or lining 11 which is fitted into and secured within the top end of the ventilator pipe 5.

The ring 8 has two substantially diametrical cross pieces 12 which are spaced apart for the pivotal reception therebetween of the upper end of a centrally disposed lifting rod 13. The

upper ends of a pair of links 14 are pivotally secured to the outer sides of the cross pieces 12 by a pivot 16 and serve as tilting members for the cap 7. The lower ends of the links 14 are connected by pivots 30 with a sleeve 31 which is rotatably mounted on a tubular guide member 17. A pivot 15 connects the upper end of the lifting rod 13 with the cross pieces 12. This lifting rod 13 extends downwardly through the tubular guide member 17. This guide member 17 is supported axially within the lining 11, preferably by integral radial arms 18. The lower end of the lifting rod 13 is provided with annular rack teeth 19, which are not a spiral of screw, butare separate annular teeth, each extending entirely around the lifting rod, and each entirely separate from the other teeth. The rack teeth 19 are disposed in mesh with a pinion 20 on a transverse shaft 21 which is journaled in bear- 9 ings 22 in the sides of the ventilator pipe 5. One end of the shaft 21 extends out through the side of the ventilator pipe and has a squared end 23 whereon a crank 24 may be placed for the purpose of turning the shaft 21. For the purpose;

of locking the shaft 21 against rotation, to thereby hold the ventilator pipe cap in any desired position, I provide a ratchet wheel 25, which is secured on the shaft 21, and further provide a pawl 26- which is pivotally mounted on the ventilator pipe 5 and arranged to engage with said ratchet wheel to lock the same against rotation in either direction. The tubular guide member 17 is relatively long whereby it will hold the lifting rod 13 firmly in an upright position and the teeth 19 on said lifting rod have the same external diameter as said rod whereby they will fit snugly within the guide member 17 when the rod 13 is elevated. The pinion 20 is positioned near bottom of the guide member 17 and will always remain fully meshed with the lifting rod 13 without other means for holding said two parts in meshed relation. I prefer, however, to

provide one or more lugs 27 on the lower end of the guide member 17 and to pass the shaft 21 through holes in the lugs to support the shaft at this location. The lifting rod 13 is relatively short and the shaft 21 and pinion 20 are as close to the upper end of said lifting red as they can be placed without interfering with the operation of the cowl 6. The lifting rod 13 is freely rotatablewithin the guide member 17 at all times and is also freely rotatable relative to the pinion 20 thus allowing the cap 7 to be turned at any desired angle and permitting said cap, when raised, to be rotated or turned with the cowl 6. A bracket 28 isprovided within the cowl 6 to engage with the cap 7 when it is lifted and turn said cowl so that it'will never seriously obstruct the entrance of air into the ventilator pipe. The lower end of the link 14 is connected by pivot means 30 with a collar 31 which is rotatable on the upper end of the guide member 17.

When the lifting rod 13 is raised it will lift the center of the cap '7 but one edge of said cap will be held down by the link '14 and'the cap will be tilted into an inclined or substantially upright position, as shown in Fig. 1. As the cap is raised itmay strike against the bracket 28, which is off center relative to said cap, and which will turn said cap into an edgewise position relative to the open front of the cowl whereby said cap will not materially obstruct the entrance of air into the ventilator pipe.

When the cowl is removed from the ventilator pipe and the cap '7 is closed it will afford a flat and unobstructed surface whereby cargo may be placed directly on the top of the ventilator pipe if desired. If the cap is raised when no cowl is on the ventilator pipe then the cap may be turned into a position to deflect air down said open side of the cowl.

pipe and said cap may be opened as much or as little as desired.

The cap will always remain on the ventilator pipe and may be very quickly and easily opened or closed or adjusted to any desired position without removing the cowl. The cap and operating mechanism therefor are cheap and simple to make and easy to install and neither the cap nor the mechanism for operating the same'will be seriously impaired by the corrodin g effect of salt water.

.The foregoing description and accompanying drawing clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in this apparatus may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Cover means for use with a ships ventilator pipe, embodying an annular sleeve secured within the upper end of said ventilator pipe and affording a beveled seat at the top end'of the pipe, a guide member supported centrally within said sleeve, a lifting rod movable vertically and 100 rotatively within said guide member, annular rack teeth formed directly on the lower end of said lifting rod, a shaft extending crosswise through said ventilator pipe, bearing bracket means rigid with the lower end of said guide member and forming a bearing for the medial portion of 'said' shaft, a pinion secured on said shaft at the location of said bearing bracket means, said pinion meshing directly with the annular rack teeth on the lower end of said lifting rod leaving said lifting rod free to turn in said guide member, a crank on said shaft external to said ventilator pipe, a cap for the ventilator pipe, said cap being pivotally secured centrally to the top end of said lifting rod,and link means rotatively connected with the topend of said guide member and pivotally connected with said cap at a point removed from the center whereby said cap will be tilted when said lifting rod is moved vertically.

2. The combination with a ventilator pipe having a cowl which is open on one side on its upper end, of a cap for the upper end of said ventilator pipe, means supporting said cap rotatably' for raising and lowering movement, means for raising and lowering said cap and means in said cowl for engaging the cap to one side of the center when the cap is raised, whereby the cap will be turned edgewise relative to the,

HOWELL PARKER. 

